Bristol vs Northampton, Friday 4th (7.45pm KO):

[jimKRFC]

Bristol team:
15. Henry Purdy; 14. Niyi Adeolokun, 13. Piers O’Conor, 12. Siale Piutau (c), 11. Alapati Leiua; 10. Sam Bedlow, 9. Andy Uren; 1. Jake Woolmore, 2. Bryan Byrne, 3. Max Lahiff, 4. Dave Attwood, 5. Joe Joyce, 6. Jake Heenan, 7. Dan Thomas, 8. Nathan Hughes.

Subs: 16. Will Capon, 17. Yann Thomas, 18. John Afoa, 19. Ed Holmes, 20. Mitch Eadie, 21. Harry Randall, 22. Tiff Eden, 23. Toby Fricker.

[jimKRFC]

Saints side:
15 Ahsee Tuala, 14 Matt Proctor, 13 Piers Francis, 12 Rory Hutchinson, 11 Tom Collins, 10 James Grayson, 9 Henry Taylor
1 Alex Waller (co-capt), 2 Reece Marshall, 3 Owen Franks, 4 Api Ratuniyarawa, 5 David Ribbans, 6 Nick Isiekwe, 7 Lewis Ludlam (co-capt), 8 Tom Wood

Replacements:
16 James Fish, 17 Francois Van Wyk, 18 Ehren Painter, 19 Alex Coles, 20 Shaun Adendorff, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Fraser Dingwall, 23 Taqele Naiyaravoro

[jimKRFC]

Referee: Luke Pearce
Assistant Referees: Adam Leal and Roy Maybank
No.4: Simon Adams
TMO: David Rose

Bristol starting to see some of the injuries return but still missing a lot of key players, had hoped Naulago was ready to play but think we should have enough to get past Saints who are in a bit of poor form. Weather not looking good though - cold and wet forecast.

[Banquo]

slightly odd numbering on Francis and Hutchinson, as Francis is definitely a 12; if they are playing them as numbered, that's quite strange. Is Mallinder crocked? Saints have a lot of good players, playing poorly. Could be a big win for Brizz and Saints will be panicking.

[Puja]

Purdy can play 15?

Puja

[Scrumhead]

I see Mallinder has disappeared again ...

Anyone know what’s up with Vui?

[jimKRFC]

The Saints unoffical board mentioned that Vesty sees 12/13 as interchangable - not sure I'd agree (especially on defence) myself...

Purdy at 15 is get POC into the 13 shirt, Alapati has been "unconvicing" as a 13 on defence. Vui hurt his hand against Wasps, he was supposed to play last week but failed the last minute medical check. I assume he's being rested for the Euro games now.

[Banquo]

The Saints unoffical board mentioned that Vesty sees 12/13 as interchangable - not sure I'd agree (especially on defence) myself...

Purdy at 15 is get POC into the 13 shirt, Alapati has been "unconvicing" as a 13 on defence. Vui hurt his hand against Wasps, he was supposed to play last week but failed the last minute medical check. I assume he's being rested for the Euro games now.

I did wonder if its their worry about Hutchinson defence at 13, but interestingly I think that's the first time in ages that Francis and Hutchinson have started together.
12/13 interchangeable....pfft

[p/d]

The Saints unoffical board mentioned that Vesty sees 12/13 as interchangable - not sure I'd agree (especially on defence) myself...

Be interesting to hear Banquo's thoughts on this.....

[p/d]

12/13 interchangeable....pfft

I expected more

[Scrumhead]

Saints probably shaded that first half but Bristol unlucky not to have reduced the deficit to 2 points.

I fancy Bristol to come back to win, but fair play to Saints for looking a fair bit better than they have.

[jimKRFC]

With a one eyed perspective I do wonder why the tmo didn't check what looked like a clear forward pass in the 1st Saints try but was prepared to go back so (too far possibly) to rule out the 2nd Bris one.

Bris not playing at all well, Saints going well so can't complain really.

[FKAS]

The Saints unoffical board mentioned that Vesty sees 12/13 as interchangable - not sure I'd agree (especially on defence) myself...

Purdy at 15 is get POC into the 13 shirt, Alapati has been "unconvicing" as a 13 on defence. Vui hurt his hand against Wasps, he was supposed to play last week but failed the last minute medical check. I assume he's being rested for the Euro games now.

I did wonder if its their worry about Hutchinson defence at 13, but interestingly I think that's the first time in ages that Francis and Hutchinson have started together.
12/13 interchangeable....pfft

Depends on the centres involved. Unless you are playing a 10/12 or 13/wing your centres should be able to interchange.

Pearce actually impressing as a ref. Doesn't happen often but I like it. Hope his example is kept up. Quick form of scrums and getting the scrum halfs to use the ball inside 5 seconds.

[FKAS]

Don't know why they spent so long looking at whether it was a deliberate knock on, the player in front of the knock on kicks the ball away. Penalty all day.

[Scrumhead]

With a one eyed perspective I do wonder why the tmo didn't check what looked like a clear forward pass in the 1st Saints try but was prepared to go back so (too far possibly) to rule out the 2nd Bris one.

Bris not playing at all well, Saints going well so can't complain really.

To be fair, I’m entirely neutral and I thought the same.

Bristol lucky to win that. Eden had another poor game and his missed kicked were almost very costly.

[Oakboy]

With a one eyed perspective I do wonder why the tmo didn't check what looked like a clear forward pass in the 1st Saints try but was prepared to go back so (too far possibly) to rule out the 2nd Bris one.

Bris not playing at all well, Saints going well so can't complain really.

To be fair, I’m entirely neutral and I thought the same.

Bristol lucky to win that. Eden had another poor game and his missed kicked were almost very costly.

Well predicted, young fellow!

[jimKRFC]

To be fair, I’m entirely neutral and I thought the same.

Bristol lucky to win that. Eden had another poor game and his missed kicked were almost very costly.

Didn't deserve that, worst Bristol performance in ages. Eden and Fricker also showing they're not quite up to.the level needed. We really need the big players back for next week (having a 10 will make a difference).

Someone, on twitter, saying that tmo can only back 2 rucks for a "clear and obvious" infringement. Uren's fumble to try was 4.

[Puja]

Pearce actually impressing as a ref. Doesn't happen often but I like it. Hope his example is kept up. Quick form of scrums and getting the scrum halfs to use the ball inside 5 seconds.

Agreed - He had a very good game and I think he's really developing as a ref.

Puja

[Adam_P]

Surely that last penalty just caught Painter's hand in the act of tackling, therefore knock on only? 'Deliberate slap down' from the TMO is a load of bollocks

[Digby]

How does the Painter knock on differ from the Wales try last weekend? They all swing an arm into the tackle to do that

[Puja]

Surely that last penalty just caught Painter's hand in the act of tackling, therefore knock on only? 'Deliberate slap down' from the TMO is a load of bollocks

That angle and few frames is hugely misleading - the perspective makes it look like that arm is close to the ball carrier's body. Looked at from the other angle, he blatantly sticks his hand into the passing lane - might be instinctive, but he definitely puts his arm there to block the pass.

It's a moot point anyway, as the balls goes forward off him and then is immediately picked up by a Northampton player in front, so it's offside even if you do want to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Saints will be disappointed to lose at the end but they should be encouraged by a far better performance. Much better defence on show and far greater energy. Work to do but its a good sign.
Bris look a little out of sorts, not quite fully in sync. They will be better for returning internationals.
Well done the ref! I really liked his hurrying up of the SH's and his attempts to get scrums set quickly. Others take note.

[Oakboy]

Saints will be disappointed to lose at the end but they should be encouraged by a far better performance. Much better defence on show and far greater energy. Work to do but its a good sign.
Bris look a little out of sorts, not quite fully in sync. They will be better for returning internationals.
Well done the ref! I really liked his hurrying up of the SH's and his attempts to get scrums set quickly. Others take note.

Agreed. He also had several goes at dispersing pre-lineout huddles. Why have those crept in anyway? Does a captain or lineout leader no longer make a choice and issue a coded signal? Why the need to debate? If just one ref on one occasion awarded a penalty to the opposition for time-wasting maybe at least that habit could be curtailed. It's either that or stop the clock every time the whistle is blown in which case games would last two hours.

To quote Bumble, "Get on with the game."

[Scrumhead]

Agreed on Luke Pearce. He seems to have a good bit of authority and from what I can see, the players generally seem to respect him a bit more than the likes of CMK, Foley, Carley etc. Ridley is quite promising, but I can’t help but feel that looking like a 16 year old lessens his authority ...

[Raggs]

Agreed on Luke Pearce. He seems to have a good bit of authority and from what I can see, the players generally seem to respect him a bit more than the likes of CMK, Foley, Carley etc. Ridley is quite promising, but I can’t help but feel that looking like a 16 year old lessens his authority ...

A 16 year olds face on a bodybuilders body .

I like Pearce, I like Ridley. Carley and Foley I can put up with, CMK I really struggle with.